Pulp-preparing apparatus



l June ll, 1929. .1. T. MURPHY 1,716,898

PULP PREPARING APPARATUS FiledSept. 20, 1926 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 371 ireniof amp:

3 Sheets-Sheet 2 J. T. MURPHY PULP PREPARING APPARATUS Filed Sept. 20, 1926 June 11, 1929;

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June 11, 1929. J. T. MURPHY 1,716,898

PULP PREPARING APPARATUS Filed Sept. 20, 1926 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Patented June 11, 1929.

UNITED STATES JAMES T. MURPHY, OF OAK PARK, ILLINOIS.

PULP-PREPARING APPARATUS.

Application filed September 20, 1926. Serial No. 136,395.

My invention relates to pulp preparing ap iaratus.

t will be explained as embodied in a socalled beating engine, particularly adapted for the preparation of pulp in the manufacture of paper.

Ordinarily, the preparation of paper pulp-stock, commonly called stuff, ineludes disintegration or minute subdividing of the fiber and sometimes also washing. Usually these operations are carried on in a machine, called a beating engine or hollander, wherein one partly submerged roll circulates and disintegrates the liquid pulp and one or more other rolls serve to extract surplus water. So far as I am aware it never has been the practice to employ either roll for the extraction and screening of the pulp; nor has the beater roll been used to extract water.

\Vhen some raw materials, such as clean straw, are used, the pulp usually may be removed from the beating engine without screening or filtration, and suflicient disintegration can be obtained in the washing operation which is necessary to cleanse the pulp of the lime used to remove the outer shell of the stalks from the fiber. With other raw materials, such as old paper or rags, screening or filtration after disintegration is necessary to remove foreign matter such as metal clips, pins, rubber bands, buttons, threads, etc., while little, if any, washing may be required. And with still other types of raw materials, such as wood, thorough washing is necessary to remove the preliminary treating ingredients and screenin is indispensable to remove knots, bark, etc. It is, therefore, of advantage to the manufacturer, and particularly to the user, to have a beating equipment which is readily adaptable to different conditions.

One of the objects of my invention is to provide improved pulp preparing apparatus.

Another object is to speed up and facilitate the preparation of pulp.

Another object is to provide a simple machine, which by a slight and readily made alteration, can be used as a washer and as a continuous pulp filte-rcr and extractor.

Another object is to provide a machine which will thoroughly wash pulp at an increased rate.

Another object is to provide an improved beating engine.

and whichv will readily to a continuous pulp extractor and vice versa.

Another object is to provide a washing and continuous extracting equipment which can be applied readily to existing equipment with the attainment in whole or in part of the foregoing advantages.

A further object is to provide a washing, beating and pulp filter-extracting machine which is simple, ieliable, and inexpensive tions of production routine and in operating conditions.

Other objects and advantages will hereinafter appear.

An embodiment of the invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein Fig. 1 is a top plan of my improved heating engine equipped as a pulp washer or water extractor.

Fig. 2 is a section on the line 22 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a vertical cross section showing an arrangement of outlet piping applicable for using the engine either as a washer or as a pulp extractor.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged longitudinal section of the beater roll equipped for filtering and extracting water only when the engine is used as a pulp washer.

I Fig. 5 is a section on the line 55 of Fig. 6 is a perspective of one of the beater roll blade screens or filters for water extraction.

Fig. 7 is a cross section thereof.

Fig. 8 is a perspective of one'of the curved water extracting screen or filter sections used to complete the peripherial enclosure of the beater roll when the engine is used as a washer.

Fig. 9 is a perspective of one of the beater roll blade screens for pulp filtration and extraction, and

Fig. 10 is a perspective of apulp extracting screen section to complete the enclosure of the beater roll.

The beating engine comprises a generally elliptical tank 15 having a hollow, centrally disposed mid-feather 16 for providing a.

lend itself to variaclosed circuit for the flow of liquid pulp within the tank. Ordinarily, the tank and mid-feather will be constructed of sheet metal placed on or set in a foundation floor of concrete. A bearing 17 within the midfeather and a bearing 18 outside of the tank journal a shaft 19 which carries a foraminous beater roll 20, hereinafter to be described in detail. The shaft and roll may be driven counter clockwise in any desired manner, such as'by a belt passing around a pulley 21. Roll 20 is positioned to rotate freely in and near the bottom of a transverse hollow in one of the pulp channels formed by two cross projections or humps on the bottom or floor of the engine,-a back fall 22 and a speed hump 23. The bearings for the roll shaft may be made adjustable so as to permit varying the clearance between the roll and the curved floor of the tank. The roll may be covered by a removable cover 24 in the usual way.

The beater roll is made in the form of an open framework or skeleton, including two closing end plates or heads 25 and 26 and a number of interposed spiders 27 which are respectively secured to the shaft 19. The

outer ends of the spiders and the rims of the end plates carry toothed rings 28 which form spaced supports for removable peripherial screens or filters to be hereinafter described. The hubs of the spiders support frusto-cone shaped tube sections 29 which, when the roll is in place, slope toward the mid-feather and provide an inclined surface for the flow and discharge of water or liquid pulp. The space between the periphery of the roll and the cone shaped surface formed by sections 29 is divided into longitudinal compartments by radial partitions Thus, the roll provides a number of separate compartments which are parallel to its axis and have individual outlets 31 at their smaller or mid-feather end.

When the engine is to be used as a beating washer the periphery of the roll is closed by foraminous pulp screen or water-filter sections such as shown in Figs. 6 to 8. Inwardly inverted trough or channel shaped screen sections 35 (Figs. 6 and 7), of a length approximately equal to that of the roll, are carried by the projecting supporting teeth of rings 28 and may be anchored thereto by suitable means such as screws 36 which thread into tapped holes in the sides of the teeth. These trough shaped sections form projecting blades around the roll. The intervening spaces between the edges of adjacent blades are closed by curved foraminous screen sections 37 (Fig. 8) which are an chored to rings 28 by suitable means such as screws 38. By making the teeth converge slightly toward the center of theroll and providing a tight fit between the trough shaped blades and curved sections, the

assembled parts will be tightly wedged together so that the centrifugal force of rotation cannot separate them. These trough shaped blade and curved sections are provided with a large number of small slots 39 therethrough 'which have dimensions such that the pulp fibers are prevented from passing through although water may readily pass. Slots, or rather slits, having a width of .040 of an inch have been found to give good results in many cases, although, of course, the size will depend somewhat upon and may be varied to meet different conditions.

The operation of the engine as a beaten washer is as follows:

The tank is filled with pulp to the desired level but inasmuch as the roll which serves both as a beater. and a water filter and extractor is located near the bottom, it may be started and washing and beating may commence at an early stage of the filling operation. Unlike the ordinary surface extractors, it is not necessary to wait until the tank is full and consequently time is saved.

The rotation of the combined beater and water extractor or water filter roll sets the liquid pulp in circulation in the channel about the mid-feather and violently agitates the same. The speed bump causes a relatively high velocity of pulp flow past the roll. Clean water may be added by means of shower pipes 40 and 41, conveniently located in or over the tank. Locating one shower in front of the roll and the other above the same, as shown, has been found to give good results. The blades or projections of the roll carry along and serve as paddles to beat the pulp. They also act like buckets to pick up quantities of the liquid pulp. The striking and driving ac tion of the rolls rotation serves to force water through the small openings in the advancing portion of the roll periphery and to suck water through in the trailing portions, but, because of the small size of the slots, the pulp cannot go through. Also, the buckets formed between the blades of the roll cause quantities of the pulp to be carried up out of the tank where, as soon as the liquid level is passed, the water readily drains and runs through. The shower all, located above the roll, sprays the pulp as it is carried around out of the mass in the In order still further to accelerate washing and the extraction and filtering of wash water, the bottom of the tank may be provided with vacuum extractor boxes. Two of these boxes are shown in the drawings although the number and arrangement may be varied as desired. A vacuum box 42 is shown just behind the mid-feather and a box 43 inthe floor of the channel on the opposite side of the mid-feather. These boxes may consist of tight metal boxes having their top edges set substantially flush with or slightly below the floor of the tank. The tops of the boxes are provided with closure plates having small slits therein like the channel shaped and curved plates on the periphery of the beating roll. A low degree of vacuum, such as around one inch of mercury, may be applied to these boxes through suitable pipes 44 and any appropriate vacuum pump. hen such vacuum boxes are used, water is drawn from the pulp as it passes over them but the fibers are prevented from passing. A steam or other pressure fluid connection 45 may be provided to blow the accumulated pulp fibers from the small slits when it is desired to clean the tank.

When the pulp has been thoroughly washed and beaten to the desired degree it may, if it contains no extraneous matter requiring filtration be withdrawn through an outlet trap 46.

In order to convert the engine from a beaterwasher into a beater-pulp-extractor all it is necessary to do is to remove the slitted or water-filter sections from the beater roll and substitute pulp-filter sections therefor. These pulp-filter sections are shown in Figs. 9 and 10. They are like the water-filter sections heretofore described, except that larger holes 47 are provided in the place of the minute slots. Also, of course, the vacuum is removed from the vacuum boxes and the water showers may be shut off unless the pulp is to be thinned.

When operating as a beater and continuous pulp extractor, the roll serves to circulate, agitate and masticate the pulp, the blade or bucket like form of the roll serving to accelerate these operations as heretofore described. In addition, the submerged beater roll serves as a pulp filter, permitting some water and the pulp which is sufliciently masticated to )ass therethrough to the outlet at its mid-feather end. The pulp is continuously filtered and extracted and new stock may be continuously added to the tank to keep it at the desired condition of operation.

A removal pipe 50, provided with an opening for shaft 19 and having a liquid tight but bearing connection with roll 20, may be provided to carry off the extract from the roll-outlet when the engine is used as a washer, or pulp when it is used as a pulp filter-extractor. This pipe maypass downwardly through and out at the bottom of the hollow mid-feather. A dual delivery :pipe system is shown at the bottom of Fig. 3 whereby the extract may be'readily conveyed away. Removal pipe 50 extends into a funnel shaped end of the common section 51 of two branch delivery pipes 52 and 53. A valve 54 which maybe moved to'close either branch 52 or 53 and open'the other, serves to direct the extract as desired. For example, branch 52 may be closed and branch 53 opened to direct wash water to the sewer when the engine is used as a beater-washer. Or branch 52 may be opened and branch 53 closed to direct filtered pulp to a stuff box or pulp storage tank when the engine is used as a beater-pulp-extractor. A suitable valve 55 may be placed in removal pipe 50 just below the elbow therein so that the discharge from the engine may be stopped and started at will. This valve may, for example, be used to prevent the premature discharge of water when the engine is started as a washer or of pulp when the engine is started as a pulp extractor.

Having thus illustrated and explained the nature and an embodiment of my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by United States Letters Patent is as follows:

1. Pulp preparing apparatus comprising a pulp holding tank, a mid-feather separating the tank into parallel channels for the flow of the pulp within the tank, a rotatable element mounted in one of the channels, and foraminous means for converting the element from a water filter only to a pulp filter and vice versa.

2. Pulp preparing apparatus comprising a pulp holding tank, a mid-feather for providing a closed circuit for the flow of pulp within the tank, a rotatable beater roll located in the circuit, said roll being provided with a projection having an opening for the passage of water and pulp therethrough, and means for withdrawing water and pulp from the interior of the roll.

3. Pulp preparing apparatus comprising a pulp holding tank, a partition for creating a closed circuit for the flow of pulp within the tank, a backfall in the bottom of the tank, a foraminous pulp masticating beater roll located in the tank in advance of the mid-feather, means for driving the roll, a passage within the roll for conveying fluid axially thereof, and means for conveying the fluid from the roll.

4. Pulp preparing apparatus comprising a pulpholding tank, a mid-feather therein, a backfall in the tank, a beater roll rotatably mounted in the tank in advance of the backfall, a foraminous bladed peripheral enclosure for the roll, a driving connection for the roll, and fluid connections for withdrawing fluid from the interior of the roll.

5. A beater engine comprising a tank with a mid-feather therein, a beater roll mounted to rotate within the tank near the bottom thereof and having a foraminous bladed periphery to circulate and agitate the pulp and serve as a filter to extract desired ingredients, and means for driving the roll.

6. A beating engine comprising a pulp tank having a mid-feather therein, 'abackfall in the floor of the tank, a foraminous bladed beater roll rotatably mounted in the tank in advance of the backfall, said roll serving as a beater and extractor and having a passage therein to convey extracted fluid axially thereof out of the tank, and means for driving the roll.

7. A beating engine comprising a pulp tank with a mid-feather therein, a beater roll framework journaled transversely of and within the tank, a removable foraminous bladed peripheral cover for the framework of the roll, and a fluid passage within the roll to convey fluid therethrough.

8. A'beating engine comprising a pulp tank, and a beater roll journaled to rotate near the bottom thereof and having a bladed foraminous periphery to circulate and beat the pulp and serve as a filter selectively to permit certain ingredients to pass into the interior of the roll and exclude other ingredients.

9. A beating engine having a tank for holding liquid pulp, a mid-feather in the tank to direct the circulation of the pulp in a closed path within the tank, a shaft journaled to rotate between the mid-feather and one wall of the tank, a toothed skeleton beater roll framework carriedby the shaft, channel shaped foraminous filter sections adapted to fit over the teeth of the framework, and curved foraminous filter sections adapted to fit the framework between the channel shaped sections to complete the periphery of the beater roll.

10. A beating engine comprising a tank for pulp, a foraminous beater roll and filter rotatably mounted in the tank, and aforaminous vacuum box located in the floor of the tank to extract fluid from the tank.

11. A beater roll comprising a generally cylindrical member having a foraminous blade on its periphery the openings in the blade providing communication between the inside and the outside of the roll.

12. A beater roll comprising a generally cylindrical hollow member having a periphery composed of foraminous blades and curved foraminousinembers completing the periphery between the blades.

13. A beater roll for pulp preparing apparatus and comprising a skeleton framework, and a peripheral enclosure comprising detachable foraminous channel shaped blades and detachable foraminous curved plates between blades.

14-. A beater roll for a beating engine and coinprising a generally cylindrical rotatable hollow menfber having a periphery pro vided with foraminous outwardly projecting blades.

15. A beating engine comprising a tank with amid-feather therein, a beater roll mounted to rotate within the tank near the bottom thereof and having a foraniinous bladed periphery to circulate and agitate the pulp and serve as a filter to extract de sired ingredients, means for driving the roll, and means for continuously discharging from the interior of the roll.

16. A beating engine comprising a pulp tank, a beater roll journaled to rotate near the bottom thereof and having a bladed foraminous periphery to circulate and beat the pulp and serve as a filter selectively to permit certain ingredients to pass into the interior of the roll and exclude other ingredients, and an outlet in continuous communication with the interior of the roll for withdrawing the contents therefrom.

In witness whereof, I hereunto subscribe my name this 15th day of September, 1926.

JAMES T. MURPHY. 

